To take a photo on a Chromebook, open Launcher, select Camera, choose Photo, then select Take photo. Open the saved picture from the latest-image thumbnail in Camera or find it in the Camera folder in Files. The built-in Camera app requires no installation.
The short version
- Take a picture: Open Launcher > Camera > Photo, then select Take photo.
- Use a tablet button: With Camera in Photo mode on a Chromebook tablet or convertible in tablet mode, press Volume Up or Volume Down.
- Find the result: Open the latest-image thumbnail or open Files, open My files, then select Camera.
- Restore camera access: Turn on the physical camera switch on models that have one and enable Camera access in ChromeOS privacy controls.
| Option | Where to start | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Regular photo | Launcher > Camera > Photo | Chromebooks with a working camera |
| Keyboard launch | Press Search or Launcher, then type Camera | Key name depends on your keyboard |
| Shelf launch | Right-click Camera and select Pin to Shelf | Quick access to the same app |
| Keyboard shutter | Press Space with Camera active | Running preview and a Camera version supporting it |
| Tablet shutter | Press Volume Up or Volume Down | Tablets and convertibles in tablet mode |
| Portrait photo | Camera > Portrait | When the mode appears |
| Square photo | Settings > Photo aspect ratio > Square | Camera versions with aspect-ratio settings |
| Timed photo | Timer | A 3-second or 10-second delay |
| Video snapshot | Take video snapshot | During video recording |
| Another camera | Switch camera | Two built-in cameras or a compatible external camera |
| Zoom and positioning | Pan, tilt, and zoom | Supported camera hardware |
| Resolution and aspect ratio | Camera's Settings | Options depend on the version and camera |
| Preview and composition | Mirroring and Grid | Labels and choices can vary by Camera version |
| Document photo | Scan > Document | Saving a single page as an image |
| Account photo | Settings > Wallpaper and style | Creating your Chromebook account image |
| Docs or Slides photo | Insert > Image > Camera | An editable document or presentation in Chrome |
| Docs watermark | Insert > Page elements > Watermark | Documents in pages format |
| Browser photo | Webcam Toy | A working webcam, JavaScript and camera permission |
| System camera access | Privacy controls > Camera access | Camera access across apps and services |
| Physical camera switch | Your Chromebook's camera switch | Models equipped with one |
| Individual app access | Privacy controls | Apps listed there |
| App management permission | Apps > Manage your apps | Apps exposing a camera permission |
| Website permission prompt | Allow while visiting the site or Allow this time | When Chrome requests camera access |
| Blocked website | Chrome's Site settings > Camera | Previously blocked sites, subject to organization policies |
| Permission from the site | View site information > Site settings | Changing access for the open website |
| Browser camera selection | Camera dropdown in Chrome's Camera settings | Multiple available cameras |
| Android app permission | Android settings > Apps & notifications | Chromebooks supporting Android apps |
| Supervised website access | Family Link's Google Chrome and Web settings | Supervised Chromebooks on ChromeOS 71 or later |
| Supervised app access | Family Link's App limits or App permissions | Supervised Chromebooks on ChromeOS 71 or later |
| Managed camera input | Admin console's Video input (camera) | Administrator-controlled accounts or devices |
| Blocked Camera app | Admin console's Disabled system features | Managed ChromeOS |
| Saved photo | Camera thumbnail or the Camera folder in Files | Pictures saved by the built-in Camera app |
Open Camera and find your first photo
Select Launcher, then open Camera. Choose Photo, frame your subject in the preview, and select Take photo.
For a keyboard route, press Search or Launcher, depending on your keyboard, and type Camera. Open Camera from the results, then choose Photo and select Take photo.
To keep Camera within reach, open Launcher, right-click Camera, and select Pin to Shelf. Next time, select its shelf icon, choose Photo, and select Take photo.
Select Camera's latest-image thumbnail to open your recent capture. To find saved pictures, open Files, open My files, then select Camera. Check Downloads for older captures.
A camera photo captures the scene in front of the lens. To capture what is on your display instead, take a screenshot on your Chromebook.
Use a timer or a tablet button
In Camera's Photo mode, select Timer, choose 3 seconds or 10 seconds, then select Take photo. The delay gives you time to get into position before capture.
On a Chromebook tablet or convertible operating in tablet mode, open Camera and select Photo. Press Volume Up or Volume Down to take the picture.
Google's current Camera implementation also supports Space as a shutter shortcut with Photo selected, the Camera window active and its preview running. Availability can vary with your installed Camera version, so select Take photo if the shortcut does not capture a picture.
Choose the camera and adjust your picture
On a Chromebook with two built-in cameras, select Switch camera until the desired preview appears. For an external camera, connect a compatible model first, then use the same control. Select Photo and Take photo.
If your camera supports positioning controls, select Pan, tilt, and zoom, then adjust Zoom. Reposition the view with the Left arrow, Right arrow, Up arrow or Down arrow controls, then select Take photo. These controls depend on the camera hardware.
Google calls the mirroring control Mirroring; your Camera version may show Mirror preview with On and Off choices. Select Grid, choose an available pattern such as 3 x 3, 4 x 4 or Golden ratio, then select Take photo.
When Camera offers Portrait, select it and choose Take photo. Return to Photo for an ordinary picture.
On Camera versions with aspect-ratio settings, open Photo, then Settings > Photo aspect ratio. Choose Square for your camera, return to the viewfinder, and select Take photo. Google has moved the older standalone Square mode into aspect-ratio settings in its current Camera implementation, though installed interfaces can differ.
To change resolution, open Camera's Settings and select Photo resolution where offered. Choose an available option for your camera, return to Photo, and select Take photo. Resolution choices depend on hardware, and some cameras display This camera cannot change resolution.
Capture a document or a video snapshot
For a picture of a paper document, open Camera > Scan > Document. Frame one page, press the shutter, then select Save as photo. Document scanning supports saving a single page as a photo.
Scanning a printed code is a different task from saving a page image. To read a code instead, follow the steps to scan a QR code.
You can also capture a still while recording video in Camera. Select Video, choose Start recording, then select Take video snapshot during the recording.
Take photos in Docs or a browser app
In an editable Google Docs document or Google Slides presentation open in Chrome, select Insert > Image > Camera. Grant camera permission if requested, use the shutter, select the captured image, then click Insert.
For a browser photo tool, open Webcam Toy in Chrome with a working webcam and JavaScript enabled. Select Ready? Smile! and the camera-access button, then grant browser camera permission.
Select Take a photo, then select Save. This browser method requires no installation.
Restore camera access for apps
If your Chromebook has a physical camera switch, turn it on before opening Camera. Its location and operation depend on the model.
Select the time, then open Settings > Privacy and security > Privacy controls. Turn on Camera access, which controls camera access across apps and services. With that enabled, select the affected app's camera permission and choose On if the app is listed.
You can also select the time and open Settings > Apps > Manage your apps. Select the affected app and enable Camera if that permission appears. Available permissions vary by app.
For an Android app on a Chromebook that supports Android apps, select the time and open Settings > Apps > Manage Google Play preferences > Android settings. Continue to Apps & notifications > Permission manager > Camera, select the app, and grant camera permission. Android settings and permission choices can differ between runtime versions.
Fix website camera permissions
When a photo-taking website first requests camera access in Chrome, select Allow while visiting the site or Allow this time. If the site is already blocked, select View site information to the left of its address. Open Site settings, change Camera to Allow, and reload the site when required.
Alternatively, open Chrome's More > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Camera. Under Not allowed to use your camera or microphone, select the site and change its camera permission to Allow. Organization policies can prevent permission changes.
If a browser tool uses the wrong camera, open the same Camera settings in Chrome. With multiple cameras available, open the camera dropdown and select the one you want. A website may also provide its own camera selector.
Fix camera restrictions in Family Link
For a Family Link supervised Chromebook running ChromeOS 71 or later, you can manage website permission requests as the parent. In Family Link, select your child, then open Controls > Google Chrome and Web > Advanced settings. Turn on the setting whose label begins with Permissions for sites so your child can grant a photo-taking website camera access.
Google also uses the labels Permissions for sites, Extensions, and On-device site data and Permissions for sites, apps, and extensions for this supervision setting. Check the wording shown in your Family Link interface.
For an app, select your child in Family Link and open Screen time > Time limits > App limits. Select the app, open App details > Permissions, and enable its camera permission. Alternatively, open Controls > Signed-in devices, select the Chromebook, then open App permissions and select the camera permission. Available apps and permissions vary.
Fix camera restrictions on a managed Chromebook
If school or work policies block camera access, contact your administrator. Administrators can control both camera input and access to the built-in Camera app.
If you administer the device, open the Google Admin console and select Devices > Chrome > Settings. On User & browser settings, select the relevant organizational unit or group. Find Video input (camera), choose Enable camera input for websites and apps, then select Save. Use Video input allowed URLs for site-specific exceptions.
To restore a blocked Camera app, open Devices > Chrome > Settings > User & browser settings in the Admin console. Select the relevant organizational unit or group, find Disabled system features, remove Camera from the disabled features, then select Save. In signed-in sessions on ChromeOS 137 or later, disabled apps are hidden; earlier versions leave them visible but blocked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you take a new Chromebook account photo?
Select the time, then open Settings > Wallpaper and style > Set your wallpaper & style. At your account photo, select Edit > Camera > Take photo. This creates an account image; Google does not document this route as saving an ordinary photo in Camera.
Can you replace an existing image with a camera photo in Docs or Slides?
Yes, in an editable document or presentation in Chrome, right-click the existing image and select Replace image > Camera. Grant camera permission if requested, use the shutter, select your captured image, then click Insert.
Can you take a photo for a Google Docs watermark?
Yes, in Google Docs in Chrome, select Insert > Page elements > Watermark. In the side panel, select Image > Select image, then choose the camera source and capture an image. This requires pages format; watermarks are unavailable in pageless documents.
Can Google Assistant take a photo on an updated Chromebook?
The historical Google Assistant photo and selfie commands are deprecated because Google removed the native Assistant implementation. Open Camera, select Photo, then select Take photo instead.